Michee

I bought pure Soya protein at Whole Foods. It is tasteless, but is the consistency of wallpaper paste when mixed with liquid

I have noticed I crave salt the day after I exercise a lot (more than 3 hours of cardio). My trainer says it has to do with electrolyte imbalance from sweating, I have been adding 1 oz of gatorade to every 8oz I drink on my running days. I just started this so I will let you know if it works.

The idea is not to mention the unmentionables, instead to replace the unwanted thought with a wanted thought. something like this: "I desire healthy, nutritious foods that nourish my body" Not sure if you are religious but the affirmation that I use is: Thank you God for a healthy strong slim body IMHO affirmations do work

Salsa is my Hero wow Karri I didnt realize that you were part of our Aug 07 bandsters. I have been watching your fantastic journey and you have truly been an inpiration. I am running my first 5k on Aug 09 and seeing your photofinish of your half marathon is truly inspirational. I have my sights set on February for my first Half Marathon, then I am doing a 30k in March. I am getting my TT in a couple of weeks, and seeing your pics has somewhat prepared me for what to expect. My biggest fear about the TT is the fact that I will be unfilled AND unable to exercise. Double Whammy! Keep posting, keep leading......lots of us are trying to follow in your footsteps !!

hang in there........sooner than you think the memory of the pain will disappear. Good luck on your journey, this is going to be a fantastic year for you

If you are considering getting banded far away from home, make sure you have a local clinic that will do fills. Call them and make sure they do fills for ALL doctors. Some clinics are affiliated with specific doctors and will only do fills for those patients. Good luck with your research, and getting banded.

I was banded one year before you. I have lost 74 pounds, I have 12 more to go, and am getting a TT in 3 weeks. You are going to do great !!

Good Luck Cujo I was banded Aug 15 last year. I was allowed to eat veggies (225 cals per day) on my pre-op. Perhaps you can bring a some colourful veggies to grill on the BBQ and to share. I went out with a friend last night, and I noticed my size 8 jeans from old navy are getting a little loose...............trust me that feeling is sooo much better than any bbq could ever taste... You are going to do awesome, welcome to bandland

Good Luck Laura I have no advice on this subject, I am getting a TT on August 20th, self pay. I was a self pay for my band as well. I am sooooo excited about getting my TT, wont it be great to get rid of all that skin/flab ? -- wooo hoooo I think after I am healed I will get a navel piercing, that way I will have an excuse to show my soon to be pancake flat stomach. Perhaps someone should design and sell belly button rings for us lapbanders! Best wishes.

I am single and live alone. A friend stayed over the first night (doctors orders) and then she left for work at 7:00 am. I only told 2 people about my surgery, so i had no one checking on me. I think it would have annoyed me, because I was taking lots of naps the first couple of days. I had surg on Wed, and on Friday I went to the spa for a mani and pedi with a friend. You will do great. Congratulations on your decision

I keep some Meal Replacement bars in the fridge for "emergencies" or if I know I am going to be on the road or working late. I also buy canned tuna in the "pop top" cans, and sardines and herring, they also come in the "pop top" Once a month I have a "cooking day" usually on a saturday, I have 2 crockpots going and the oven. I make a bunch of different meals and freeze them in individual portions using ziploc bags. Since the portions are small, they thaw pretty quickly, I grab a baggie out of the freezer on my way to work and it is thawed by lunch time Another "emergency" type of food, I keep almonds, walnuts, prunes and dried apricots. In a pinch I can put a handful in a baggie and eat it for breakie, I make sure I have more nuts (protien) than fruit (carbs).

Get the Band. I am sure there will lots of people at the wedding. The bride is usually super busy trying to talk to everyone. In reality, you will probably spend less than 10 minutes total talking to the bride one on one. Can you go see her the week before the wedding and help with last minute preparations? That may be more "memorable" time for the 2 of you

My ex had a triple bypass 13 years ago, he was only 45. He was very self conscious about the huge scar, and tries not to go shirtless at all. The scar from a heart bypass is very obviously a scar from a heart bypass. Since the lap band scar is small you could say , "oh from minor surgery" or you could make a joke out of it and say. "I was part of a study, where they were trying to figure out why some men are so handsome, intelligent and charming, they took a specimen to examine my DNA. If the study goes well in a few years everyone will be able to be as smart and handsome as me" I was stabbed in a barroom brawl I accidentally swollowed a tadpole, after few days my stomach was rumbling, it was actually the frog saying "rbbt" they had to and remove the poor guy. I bought him an aquarium, he lives at my place, come by and visit him sometime I got into a fight with this guy cause he asked too many personal squestions. I ended up fracturing his skull, but because he stabbed me first I wasnt convicted. Any more questions. As you can see, I love to be sarcastic. When people ask personal questions they deserve a sarcastic answer! Have fun, make up different stories.

Good luck with your doc. I hope you get the tests that you request. You may want to consider seeing a naturopathic doctor as well. The one i saw suggested a 21 day "detox cleanse" when I was on a plateau, and suggested some other herbal/vitamin combos. My weight loss is not as fast as some, but I am thrilled to have lost over 70 pounds in less than a year. You will lose the weight, hang in there !! We are all here to support you

Have you heard about Water loading ? If you are only a few pounds short, it may work and will not be considered "fraud" like wearing ankle weights. Basically you eat lots of salt and salty food for a few days and drink as much water as possible before getting weighed, since you are retaining water you will weigh more. I saw a contestant do this on biggest loser Australia, she gained 5 pounds!

To be honest, I did not tell my employer about my lapband either. I had a hiatal hernia repair at the same time as the lapband, so I simply told my employer that I had a hiatal hernia repair. Not exactly the whole truth, but I cannot be accused of lying to either. I am having a TT in a few weeks, and I have told everyone. I offered to use vacation time since it is elective surgery, but my employer is allowing me to use sick days.

I dont think the lapband is the issue. The point is that she lied. If she said she was having medical complications of a personal nature, she could have kept her "secret" and her job. I feel sorry for her, but it at the same time, I think that Police officers need to demonstrate a good moral compass (not blatantly lie). I think it begs the question what else has she lied about to her employer?

I am single and live alone. I had my surgery at 1:00pm on a Wednesday and was released at about 4:30 later that afternoon. I had a friend pick me up at the clinic, and stay overnight. She left my house at 7:00 am the next morning to go to work. An hour later I walked the dog. I did not have any complications other than a hiatal hernia that the doc found and repaired. I felt like crap for the first 48 hours or so, but honestly I have felt worse with the flu. By friday I was at the spa getting a mani and pedi As you say, everyone is different.........based on my experience you will be just fine without someone hanging around and annoying you

I take a powdered vitamin called ViteMin Mix, it is made by a company called genestra. It is suitable for vegans, and since it is powder you just mix it into juice/water or any type of liquid.

The cruise will be no problem, you will have a fab time. I recommend that you do not get a fill before you go, you dont want to end up overfilled and unable to get an unfill while travelling.

Can you take your daughter for a walk, the two of you can walk to a playground, and while she is on the swings you can push her while marching in place.

I am also self pay. Part of the 16k was also to cover after care, fills, defills, any problems with slippage or erosion. Check the contract you signed in Germany, I think they should correct the slippage.

With all the requirements some clinics/insurance companies in order to qualify people for surgery, perhaps the only requirement really needed is common sense.

My doc did not tell me to get any of that stuff. He had me on Optifast, for which he wrote a script. I started on childrens gummy Vitamins, but now use powdered vitamins made by a company called genestra. I just mix it into a shake. In my area there is a place called Nature Source which is a Vitamin and natural dispensary. If you could find such a dispensary I am sure they will be able to help.

a couple of ideas...........or things that have worked for me 1. my thyroid test showed up as "normal" when done by a lab/GP. I went to a naturopathetic doctor who has me use the basal temp test to monitor thyroid. That test showed a different result and she prescribed a supplement called thyrosense. 2. I Try to stick with foods that are not processed, and not "low fat". Usually when they remove the fat/sugar out of something they put other stuff (chemicals?) which I am sure are not nutritious. Try eliminating the deli meat (ham) in favour of lentils, eggs, or chicken that you have cooked yourself. Try olive oil or fish oil with vinegar in place of salad dressing. Since we are eating less, we need to make sure that we are not undernourished by taking in "less than useful" calories. Hang in, your plateau will come to an end!!